Before and After Pics: Pulsed Dye Laser (PDL) Treatment

Included in this post is a collection of before and after images and data sets from selected research publications studying the efficacy of pulsed dye lasers in treating acne vulgaris and acne scarring.

PDL Treatment of Active Acne Vulgaris

Research into the effectiveness of pulsed dye lasers in the treatment of active acne has suggested that this therapy can be moderately effective at improving symptoms, although the results are far from universal. Pulsed dye lasers are often used at lower power settings (non-ablative) in these treatments. Pulsed dye lasers are often used in conjunction with a photosensitizing agent in laser based photodynamic therapy (PDT).

Pulsed Dye Laser Treatment of Acne Scars – Before and After (Alster)

Summary of Results of non-ablative PDL Acne Treatment (Jung, et al)

Before and After Pictures of Non-Ablative PDL Acne Treatment (Harto, et al)

Long Pulsed Dye Laser Treatment of Acne – Before and After (Haedersdal, et al)

Change in Inflammatory and Non-Inflammatory Acne – Summary of Results (Haedersdal)

Study on Effectiveness of Pulsed Dye Laser Treatment of Acne – Summary of Results (Seaton)

Pulsed Dye Lasers and Treatment of Acne Scarring

Pulsed dye lasers are used frequently in the treatment of mild acne scarring. For severe acne scarring, more invasive lasers (e.g. C02 lasers) are more commonly used.

Pulsed Dye Laser Treatment of Acne Scars – Before and After (Alster)

Pulsed Dye vs Nd:YAG Lasers in Acne Scar Treatment (Lee)

PDL vs ND:YAG Laser Treatment of Acne Scars – Summary of Results (Lee)

Pulsed Dye Lasers and Acne Fulminans

Acne Fulminans is a severe form of acne that causes large inflammatory ulcerations in the skin. Unlike standard acne (Acne Vulgaris), Acne Fulminans often involves a large cytotoxic auto-immune reaction, which can lead to a sizable, heavily infected lesion. Acne Fulminans can initiate a significant infection that can be life threatening in some cases. Acne fulminans can cause severe scarring.  In many cases, Acne fulminans responds poorly (or not at all) to many standard acne treatments. In some cases, laser therapy is used to destroy the damaged tissue and corresponding infectious agents.

Pulsed Dye Laser Treatment of Severe Acne Fulminans Lesion (Friedlander)

Cellular and Histologic Views of Pulsed Dye Laser Treatment

Pulsed Dye vs Nd:YAG Laser Acne Scar Therapy – Histology (Lee)

PDL vs Q-Switched Nd:YAG Laser Treatment of Acne Scars – Histology (Jung)

Effect of Pulsed Dye Laser Treatment on Skin Texture (Alster)

Effect of PDL Treatment of Acne on Sebum Secretion – Summary of Results (Seaton)

PDL Treatment – Patient Reviews and Side Effect Frequency

Patient Perspectives – PDL vs Q-Switched Nd:YAG Acne Treatment (Jung)

Frequency of Side Effects in PDL Acne Treatment (Seaton)

References and Sources

Comparison of a 585-nm pulsed dye laser and a1064-nm Nd:YAG laser for the treatment of acne scars: A randomized split-face clinical study.
Lee, et al. 2009. For article abstract, click here.
Comparison of a Pulsed Dye Laser and a Combined 585/1,064-nm Laser in the Treatment of Acne Vulgaris.
Jung, et al. 2009. For article abstract, click here.
Improvement of facial acne scars by the 585 nm flashlamp-pumped pulsed dye laser.
Alster, et al. 1996. For article abstract, click here.
Investigation of the mechanism of action of nonablative pulsed-dye laser therapy in photorejuvenation and inflammatory acne vulgaris.
Seaton, et al. 2006. For article abstract, click here.
Long-pulsed dye laser versus long-pulsed dye laser assisted photodynamic therapy for acne vulgaris: A randomized controlled trial.
Haedersdal, et al. 2008. For article abstract, click here.
Pulsed Dye Laser Treatment of Acne: Study of Clinical Efficacy and Mechanism of Action.
Harto, et al. 2007. For article abstract, click here.
Effective Treatment of Acne Fulminans-Associated Granulation Tissue with the Pulsed Dye Laser
Friedlander. 1998. For article abstract, click here.

Related Posts @ The Science of Acne

In Depth: Pulsed Dye Lasers
Overview: Light and Laser Acne Treatments
Overview: Acne Scar Treatment
In Depth: What Causes Acne?

Additional Online Resources

Dye Lasers @ Wikipedia
Pulsed Dye Laser Patient Reviews @ Realself.com
Pulsed Dye Laser Reviews @ acne.org
Before and After Images: PDL (Vbeam Treatment)